Cuban leader arrives in New York for UN General Assembly

Cuban President Raul Castro arrived in New York Thursday ahead of the UN General Assembly, the country's first leader to visit the United States in 15 years, Cuba's official Prensa Latina reported.

Castro will attend the General Assembly on Friday to listen to an historic address from Pope Francis, who helped broker the recent rapprochement between Cuba and the United States.

Washington and Havana reestablished diplomatic relations in July after more than half a century of enmity.

Prensa Latina, the Cuban government news agency, said Castro will attend the Sustainable Development Summit at the weekend.

The 84-year-old will then address the General Assembly on Monday, only several hours after US President Barack Obama.

His brother, Fidel Castro, was the last Cuban president to attend the annual meeting of the United Nations in 2000. In recent years, Cuba was represented by Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez.

Around 170 world leaders are expected to participate in the UN General Assembly, which this year marks its 70th anniversary.

Source: AFP